Any suggestions on how to clean PVC from Proofs?

Prethen

I have some relatively cheapo Franklin proofs to experiment with. I'm currently bathing a couple in acetone for a few days. That white stuff has had about 25 years time to build up onto the coin. How can I agitate the stuff off the coin without leaving major hairlines? I allowed a dealer friend to experiment with a couple of 1963's and the came back basically impaired (PF60 at best). He used mineral water and tissue paper. I was thinking that perhaps if the coins remain under acetone or mineral water, then dunk the tissue paper so the fibers get soaked, then apply to the coin, I'll have less risk of marring the surface.

Any other ideas?

By the way, what's this I hear about using a rose thorn to clean coins that have been sitting in olive oil or the like?

carl

I'm confused. What stuff is on the coins that you are trying to get off? Where did it come from? Lots of people talk about using acetone to clean coins and that's what I just tried the other day because I read it here somewhere. It really didn't do much. Silver cleaner for jewerly works fairly good but leaves the same results. I've had Mercury Dime sitting in it for several days just to see what happens. It looks new from about 20 feet but when you look close not to good. When you get what ever is on the coin off let us know what it was and what you used. If disperate, one fast dip in battery acid will fix the thing good.

Russ

Never rub anything on the surfaces of a proof, even tissue paper. NEVER. Just let them soak in the acetone. But, if the PVC has been on their long enough, it has caused permanent damage that no conservation method will correct.

Russ, NCNE

Prethen

I was figuring if this didn't work I was going to try a screwdriver! That'll get that gunk off!

I bought a bunch of these proofs from this guy whose dad bought them from (near as I can guess) telemarketers about 25 years ago. They've been in these sealed plastic flip-like things ever since. Ick!



<< <i>Never rub anything on the surfaces of a proof, even tissue paper. NEVER. Just let them soak in the acetone. But, if the PVC has been on their long enough, it has caused permanent damage that no conservation method will correct.

Russ, NCNE >>

klorineforbrains

The flips probably had to pvc in them.
Oh, also, never use any jewlry polisher or cleaner on coins.

DMWJR

Send them to me and I'll see if I can dispose of them for you.

ychange

i believe the rose thorn/olive oil idea is for ancient coins, caked, corroded, etc., to help pick the gunk off with the least damage. *not proofs!*

Prethen

I'll give this a bump to see if there are any other ideas I can try. They've been sitting in acetone (and I agitate the liquid around a bit sometimes) for 4 days. I'm going to try for a soak in mineral spirits (before rinsing in acetone or water). In all likelihood something will actually have to touch the coins in the affected spots (there are a couple small yellowish spots on each side of each coin). If you were gambling on a technique that might cause the least amount of damage to the proof surfaces, what would you try? Go ahead and throw out your ideas (I'm reserving the screwdriver idea for last) and use my milk-spotted Frankies as a test lab. I have several more with the same problem. I really want the spots off and I want to avoid having majorly marred surfaces like what was done to two of the coins (noted above).

Prethen

I swear, I won't sue you, this board, the RCC, or anyone (even if they have deep pockets!) if your idea fails.

wjd283

I don't think milk spots can be removed.

Prethen

Actually, the dealer (noted above) was able to remove them by using tissue paper after softening them up in mineral spirits. I think they're removable, even without a chisel, but I just want to find the most benign way to attempt it.